On Feb. 1, 2003 the space shuttle Columbia was due to land at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), completing the STS-107 mission. It didn't.

This patch was inspired by the book: "Bringing Columbia Home" by Michael Leinbach and Jonathan Ward. The graphic art attempts to illustrate the valiant effort to recover the crew and orbiter by the thousands of volunteers, federal, state and local officials who assembled to get that job done. It is because of those American heroes that the astronauts were returned to their families and the cause of the tragedy was discovered.

This commemorative depicts the STS-107 patch gliding to a landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility runway escorted by NASA T-38 jet aircraft performing the "Missing Man" tribute. The seven large five-pointed stars represent the seven states Columbia flew over (and were searched) on its flight home. Above them shining in the sky are the seven stars of the constellation "Columba" ("The Dove") to honor the crew. The two other stars pay tribute to Charles Krenek and Jules Mier, Jr. who were killed in a helicopter crash during the search efforts.

The patch is 100% embroidered with 16 thread colors, five inches in diameter with a metallic gold overlock border and iron-on backing.